Leah Prinzivalli writes about pop culture, beauty and health and has interviewed some of your favorite reality stars. She has been published in VICE, Reductress, The Toast, The Frisky, and elsewhere. She lives in Brooklyn with her cat, l...

Muhammad Ali's condition worsens as he's reportedly put on life support

A respiratory issue has sent boxing legend Muhammad Ali to the hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, and insiders fear he may be fighting for his life. According to a report in the New York Post, a source claims it "likely won't be long until he passes away." The Mirror reports that four of Ali's nine children have rushed to his bedside.

Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the 1980s, likely caused by the hits he'd taken over the years as a boxer. That condition is making the respiratory issue even more difficult to treat. A source tells the Post that his "vitals are terrible" as he remains hospitalized in Scottsdale.

“Like in the ring, Ali is a fighter on the ward,” said the insider. “Doctors are working to regulate his breathing but it is being hampered by his Parkinson’s."

He last formally appeared in public at the annual Celebrity Fight Night in Phoenix, which appropriately dedicates funds to Parkinson's. While his trembling has increased over the decades, the fight hasn't gone out of Ali as he's kept up a busy appearance schedule, raised money for charity and spent time with his nine children. As the Post points out, while Ali often makes appearances, he has not spoken publicly in years.

Ali currently lives in the Phoenix area with his wife Lonnie, who has been by his bedside. The name of the hospital has not been released.